New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-23
A MAIDEN OF CHIHUAHUA.
BY Y. II. Adds.

present maid, shutting at her heels "mamacita
1he Ssenz were robbed last night. The door OF
the sala was broken in and the house ransacked.
Lupes pearls are gone with all the silver cups and
spoons and ladies' and Julios charro suit that cost
three hundred dollars, and, oh lot Of money
Don Lauro had in his chest"
Cleofas Mora, widow of Aldana shook her head
In silent comment She had heard all too much
In the last few weeks Of the depredations com
mitted by the lawless gentry who had just begun
to work their way up to chihuahua from the
States below.
"And, mamma said Blasita, "Lupe Saenz
says that Lorenzo Garcia has been walking past
her window every night this week, and she Is quite
sure he cares more for her than for Augustine
"Chismes - then answered Cleofas Mora. ny
DO you retail gossip? Have i not heart anu
hands fun already, that you should come babbllng
of Guadalupe Saem and her limitations thank
the saints that my Augustine is prudent child
who does not take up with every young blade that
appears on the Alameda. Who is this Lorenzo
Earciap Whence comes he? To whom does no
bring letters? In my young days we knew who
man might be before we owned he watched under
our windows. pretty pass we are coming to,
with the free and easy manners the American wo-
men have brought among us"
Now truth to tell. DOna Cleofas was an aver
Age little Of scold, but to-day she was sore dis
traught. She the fortunate possessor Of means,
moderate enough to be sure but still adequate for
her needs and she and hers gifted with
sound minds and bodies But at the present mo
ment she much exercised in spirit, and over
tho very two matters on which Blaslta had
touched so glibly. There was no doubt that
Lorenzo Garcia had been making tentative ad-
SanCes toward the house Of Aldana. And there
was equal certainty that Augustine was rather
kindly disposed to hearl<en to the voice Of the
charmer, coyly as yet, it was true and not to
compromising degree but DOna Cleofas foresaw
lively contest for the day when the girl should
definitely decide for her quasi admirr Tor
Augustine was endowed with tenacity Of pur
Earcf Gtr in ibta-
hua for whom none could vOuch, and, for all his
handsome eyes and address. Dona Cleofas
had no notfnn of passing to his control one
third Of the snug little sum she had laid by as
dowry for her daughters Now, too, DOna Cleo
fas had another source of disturbance which she
would by means impart to her household, com
posed exclusively of women as it was In the ST.
lent hours of the preceding night she had heard
clearly and Enthusiastically the sound Of feet NOV
ing cautiously in the little court Of her domicle.
and her big watchdog Pluto had been found stiff
and dead that morning, although none save herself
had thought Of the cause she confidently assigned
for his demise So far as appeared there was no
protection TO be had. Tho Aldana abode |
rather isolated, and the very Teculiarities of or
chitectural form which render Mexican house al |
most like fortress to outside attack virtually |
cut of communication with and assistance from |
the outside world, once the foe gained foothold |
within the gates In these days the police force
Of Chihuahua. now admirably organized. was in
significant both as to numerical strength and eff
fectiveness. Then DOna CleOfas, imbued with the
spirit of wOman's subjugatiOn and social passivity
Of her and day. felt that she could call on no
man of her acquaintance for succOr or protection.
There was nothing to do but await the course of
events.
The day went on, slowly enough. perhaps, to
Augustine, before whose eyes the form of Lorenzo
appeared not, but all too swiftly TO her mother,
enduring sort of breathlcss apprehension. Night
fell. and the little family shut inside their four
walls passed the long winter evening as best they
might. At bedtime Dona Ceofas called her PEG
pie together and, to their surprise and against
their protests, marshaled them away to a great
room, q guest-chamber rarely used, which lay at
the rear Of the house toward the kitchens and
which was strongly defended, having no windows,
but heavy oaken doors. These DOna Clcofas
locked and barred securely and mustered her
flock together
"Hush Blasa and you, too, Augustine. But
look you at Eduardo the youngest Of you all
how silently she obeys while you set up clamOr.
Why do ! bring you hercp Because l will So
then How now Am l no longer mistress in my
own abode? Here are three beds with ample pill
lOws-gSt you to rest. And yOu Beata. Herme-
linda nd Dolores 7-to the sewing women "spread
out your blankets here on the floor the nnas.
and let me hear not much a chirp from one
Of you tHl l call you in the morning"
Thus Disgusting her tenderness and anxious
fears with severe speech, like many woman OF
greater lore before her, Dona Cleofas summarily
locked the one remaining door from the outside
and marched away alone. She was confident that
II trouble were imminent it would in the di-
rection Of the little shop that was her of
income, where was a respectable stock OF goods OF
worth. and readily portable besides her STRONG
box itself, no patent money safes then obtaining
in Chihuahua Thither, then. to the stOrerOom
behind the shop did bona Cleofas wend, and near
by its weak point, small door opening the
patio, she seated herself in great chair Of
willow work, and for a brief time gave herself up
to the luxury Of weeping. For. with all her force
and decision of character. Dona Cleofas was but
aud fuhf ha fhn Vic hot
should gaze not Oh the faces of her children again
She had brought her arsenal with her; cunning
fabrication Of Colts nor many bal1ed Winchester:
for these inventions Of murderous to main
and Stay his fellows bona Cleofas had not the
slightest she was the traditional woman in her
horror OF firearms, and would not have known
how to make offensive Of them, unless mis-
siles 10 be hurled against an intruder's head But
alongside her and resting against her knee lay u
heavy, long helved axe, whose keen, bread edge
had never been turned against knot of stubborn
oak nor the gnarled roots that serve fuel there
abOuts. And DOna Cleofas had all faith in the
power Of her own right arm to WELD it hard and
well against foe. The night went on the silence
was unbroken and DOna Cleofas slcpt-slept hard
and fast, until all at once, with start, she was
rs wide awake as ever she was in her life and
nlizing that very close TO her the throat Of a
was emitting labored yet rapid breathings. The
auditory was strong and definite in Dona
CleOfas. and 1t took her not many seconds to de-
eide that the intruder had crawled through an
opening cut in the panel of the door before her.
and there he was, apparently caught fast, sprawl
ing. clawing and wriggling to force himself
further in and clear Of the opening Now and
then in the fellows cOntOrtionS his hot breath
swept the hand Of the watcher. DOna CeOfaS
drew q deep, soundless breath and rising swiftly,
to her feet, raised the In the air.
swift as light il fell-chack one mighty, convus-
fve wlithe and the man with that last twisting ,
shudder had drawn himself past the grip Of the {
ragged planks, and bona Cleofas stopping reso- (
lutely, drew him quite within with natural O
as her Quivering nerves could compass. 4
few moments Of silence then, barely audible. /
o sibant whisper: Thou, LcnchO, is all well ?"
Through the followed hands OF Dona Clcofas an
answer was sent back: AN WELCOME On.'
IL 10.